Two Simple Journals for Megs Garden - Part #1

Hello sweet friends and welcome!  So pleased to have you drop by.

As you would have guessed by the Title, I am here to share two Journals with you.  Both have been created with some wonderful papers from Megs Garden. 

I have used the A4 digital versions of two Collections ..  In the Watercolour Garden and Slightly Grunge, and I have also used papers from the Mini Book printed version of the Sherlock II Mini Book Kit.

These are the two books I created.

The journal on the left will be used for sketching and Mixed Media work and the one on the right I will use to practice my hand writing.  Believe me, I need lots of practice (LOL!!).  I used to have a reasonably neat hand but, over the years, it has degenerated quite badly so this little book will help  me to get it back in shape.  I hope!!!
Now, originally, I was going to show both books in the same post but found it would be way too big (lots of photos) so I have decided to do this in two parts.

In this post I will show you the Art Journal.
The idea and basic design of this Journal came from a You Tube video by Jen of Eve Designs.  It is a very easy book to make and Jen explains it very well so, if you would like to take a look, HERE is the link

I made my book from cardstock (it measures 5.5" x 8") and then decorated the cover by simply layering papers  and ephemera from the Mini Book Kit.   I added a little stamping and the flourishes in the corners were done with a Tim Holz Stencil and Distress Ink.
Punched an eyelet into the front cover and knotted a double length of twine through it and then attached the beads.  The twine simply wraps around the book and is looped through.  The weight of the beads help to keep it closed.

 The inside cover and the first signature. 

The paper on the inside cover is from the Slightly Grunge Collection.  All I have done here is added the stamps.  The grid and coffee stain are from Kaisercraft and the quote is from My Favourite Things.

As per the video, there are three signatures in this book (the inside pages are 160gm white paper).

Each of these signatures have been sewn into the spine ..

.. and I have made a little cover for each of them.
 The papers used on each of these covers is from the Sherlock II Mini Book Kit.  Again, the only thing added here are the stamps.

Back of the first signature and front of the second.

These papers have so much detail on them they would certainly stand on their own without any embellishment.  I have only added the stenciled flourishes here.  

 Again, all I have added here are the flourishes.  The postal stamp and faded script are all part of the papers. 

Back of second signature and front of third.

Sorry, but I have to keep repeating myself.  All I have added here is the flourish stencil.

 And, again, only added the stamp and the stencil.

 Back of the third signature and the inside back cover.

 Yep, just added the flourish!!

 The inside back cover is paper from the Slightly Grunge Collection as is the paper on the flap.  And .. again .. just added the splatter stamp and the flourish stencil.

The back cover of the journal has paper from the Mini Book Kit and .. wait for it .. all I added was the splatter stamp and the flourish stencil!!  LOL!!  Sorry!!

A closer look at the closure ..

 .. and a full frontal!!

As you've obviously noticed, (and I kept on, and on, and on, and on, telling you (LOL!!) ) there are no extra embellishments in this journal.  Firstly, as this will be a work book, I really didn't want anything  dimensional getting in the way.  Secondly, these papers are so detailed, I really didn't need to put anything more on them.  I added the stamps and stencil simply because I felt I should do some kind of embellishment even though it wasn't really necessary!

I hope you enjoyed my post and my little book and that I have inspired you to take a look at the video and make one for yourself.  Also, why not go and take a look at the fabulous range of other papers and embellishments available at Megs Garden.  I know you will find something that will be perfect for whatever you are creating.   And, if you're looking for more inspiration, why not also take a look at the fabulous creations by the rest of the Team.  HERE is the link to the Megs Garden Blog.

I am entering this Journal into the inaugural Challenge at
Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog

Thank you so much for visiting today and I hope you will come back and take a look at the second journal as well.
Take care and God Bless.
Marg oxox

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #195 - Monochrome

Hello crafty friends and welcome to my blog.  So happy you dropped by.

There is a brand new Challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.  Jackie is our host this time around, and the Theme is Monochrome!!! 

So, as usual, you don't have to make a card.  It can be anything you like as long as you follow the theme.  

Please do read the rules and take note of the 15 Challenge limit!!

Well, as is my want, I did make a card and I also did a tiny bit of stash busting or, work space clean-up really.  I had a few scraps of paper lying about on my desk and decided to use them up.  Luckily I found plenty of the same, or similar, colour and all of them are from Maja.

 There's not a lot I can tell you about making this card.  Mostly, all I used was the paper.

 I either distressed or ripped the edges and simply layered them up.

 The only embellishing I did was to stamp the greeting and heat emboss it.

 I did try to add a few bits and pieces but couldn't find anything that I was happy with ..

.. and, in the end, I decided that I liked it just as it is.

 

Another fabulous Challenge from Crafty Cardmakers!
To take a look at the wonderful inspiration by the rest of the Team and link up your entry on the Blog,  simply click the link below.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #195 - Monochrome

Thank you so much for your visit and for leaving me a little love.
Whatever you are planning to do today, do it safe and, above all, have fun!!
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

A Special Wedding Anniversary

Hello sweet visitors and welcome to my Blog.
Hope you are all well and having a lovely day.
A very special welcome to my new followers .. thank you for joining me on my creative journey.

I have another little card to share with you.  As you can see by the Title, this one was for a very Special Anniversary.    Very close friends of ours celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary recently and this is the card I made for them.

I made this card quite a while ago and, although I remember that the patterned paper used as the base is from the Parisian Gardens Collection by Megs Garden, unfotunately, I cannot remember where the other paper is from.

The flowers are by Prima and both were originally the creamy white colour.  To create the orange one, I simply sprayed it with some watered down acrylic paint. 

The wood veneer numbers were heat embossed with gold and then sprinkled with some gold glitter as well.  Unfortunately, I could not get them to photograph properly .. they are a lovely bright gold in real life.

There's a lovely bit of lace and some gauze underneath the flower cluster and the leaves are a die cut from Cheery Lynn.

I love how this chippie turned out.  It is from 2Crafty Chipboard and all I did was lighten it a little with a VersaMagic Stamp Pad and then I went around the edges with a white gel pen.  I was a bit wary when I started doing it but I love how it turned out and I'm sure I will do this again.
Had to add the obligatory prills and microbeads of course.  Can't make a feminine card without those nowadays .. LOL!!

 

More of the Parisian Gardens paper on the inside and added some strips of washi tape to the edge.  Added a simple tag with a personal message tucked into the pocket on the right hand side.

The finished card!!

Happy to report, it was well received!

That's all from me for now.  Hope you enjoyed your visit and that I was able to pass on a little inspiration.
Thank you so much for your visit and do enjoy the rest of your day.
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge # 194 - Under the Sea or At the Beach!

Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to my blog.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Crafty Cardmakers is back after a short break with a brand new Challenge.
  Judy is our host and, this time around, the theme of the Challenge is Under the Sea or At the Beach!!
As always, you may create anything you like as long as it fits the Challenge Theme.

Just remember to read the rules and be aware of our 15 Challenge limit.

This Challenge wasn't all that easy for me as I have almost nothing 'Beachy' in my stash but, after some great advice from my lovely friends  Heather Jacob and Helen Wallace (Thank you ladies),
this is the card I created.

I actually have Kaisercraft's 'Sandy Toes' paper pad and, when I saw the woodgrain paper, my first thought was 'rundown' beach shack'!  I also found a scrap of the anchor design paper (from the same pad I think) and felt that would come in handy as well.

 Luckily, at the last Craft Show in Adelaide, I had purchased the 'Net' chippie by Scrapmatts which could represent a fishing net, so I grabbed that out too.

Scoured the internet to find an image of the rundown beach shack but had no luck so I settled for a rundown Life Guard tower which I mounted on a bit of cardstock. 

Distressed all the paper edges and layered it all up with some corrugated board and twine for texture.  I added the micro beads to represent sand (it sorta looks like sand .. doesn't it??)  and popped in some sisal to represent the dried grasses found among the dunes ..

.. and, Voila!!  my 'Beachy' card was done!!

Hope you like my card and that I have given a little inpsiration to persuade you to join in with the Challenge.

For more inspiration just pop on over to the Crafty Cardmakers Post and check out the fabulous creations by the rest of the Team.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #194 - Under the Sea or At the Beach.

Thank you so much for dropping by and taking a look.  Would love it if you could leave me a little comment to let me know what you think.

Have yourselves a wonderful day and God Bless.
oxox Marg